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Gin under threat as British juniper reaches 'critical state'

Close-up of fruits on a branch of a Juniper tree (Juniperus communis) - subspecies unknown.

DEA / P. PUCCINELLI/De Agostini/Getty Images

Britain's native juniper population is at risk of dying out, with overgrazing and a new fungal disease threatening its existence. According to a study by Plantlife Scotland 79 percent of juniper plants recorded were "mature, old or dead".

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Both Common Juniper (Juniperus communis subsp. communis) and Prostrate Juniper (Juniperus communis subsp. nana) are at risk due to overgrazing, forest creation, burning and other changes in land use. Meanwhile, a new disease, Phytopthera austrocedrae, has been found in some of Scotland's already-threatened juniper populations.

Juniper is best known as the plant that gives gin its distinctive flavour, but not all species of the plant are suitable for the purpose. Both of Britain's native Juniper bushes are important for gin-making, helping give British gin its distinctive taste. Plantlife Scotland said juniper was now in a "critical state".

Three quarters of Britain's juniper is found in Scotland, where it's important not only to local gin production but also to wildlife, such as the juniper shield bug. Plantlife Scotland has published a free guide to help both professional and amateur botanists and horticulturalists identify, survey and protect the plants. Anyone can participate in the group's survey and guardianship project.

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Juniper isn't only native to Scotland, of course. The coniferous evergreen can be found everywhere from tropical Africa, to the Arctic and the high Himalayas. Found growing at heights of up to 4,900 metres, hardy juniper is one of the highest altitude plants recorded, with a wide variety of species and sub-species, both ornamental and edible, found around the world.

Although it's nothing if not tenacious, British juniper communis takes eight years or more to mature and produce fruit, while the current population is aging and thus producing less seed. Juniper seed takes two summers to ripen, and male and female plants can be far distant from one another, adding to the challenges of reproduction.